U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, has picked who he wants to succeed him in office.

On Monday, Rogers endorsed former Michigan state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop in the election for the 8th Congressional District.

“I believe Mike Bishop is the kind of conservative, results-oriented leader that will make the citizens of the 8th District proud,” Rogers said in a statement from the Bishop campaign. “As a conservative leader, Mike Bishop shares my commitment for strong constituent service to the families in the 8th District. I fully support Mike Bishop for Congress.”

Bishop currently lives in Rochester and is the chief legal officer for International Bancard Corp. He was elected to the state House in 1998 before joining the Senate in 2002. He was out of office in 2010 because of term limits, and Bill Schuette narrowly beat him out for the GOP attorney general nomination that same year.

The endorsement should be a big boost early in Bishop's campaign. So far the only other Republican to declare plans to run for the seat is Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett.

News that Rogers would not seek reelection came as a shock last month, setting off a scramble on who would run. Since it is an open seat, Democrats hope to pick it up.

Democrats Ken Darga and Susan Grettenberger announced they were running for the seat before Rogers said he would retire in order to host a nationally syndicated radio show.

After the news, several other Democrats, including Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and
Treasurer Eric Schertzing, have expressed interest. Byrum has not announced any plans and Schertzing has said he would not run if Byrum gets in the race.